60 Procurement Exemption - Community Action Groups
Forward Plan Ref: 2019/104
Contact: Rachel Burns, Waste Strategy Manager Tel: 07789 877310
Report by Director for Planning & Place (CMDE17).
The CAG project supports local groups to improve their local environment and community; reducing waste and energy, promoting sustainable transport, local food and working to increase biodiversity. In order to diversify their funding streams and reduce their reliance on OCC funding they need to establish as a new entity – a Community Benefit Society. Directly awarding a contract avoids the issues with state aid that a grant would cause and allows the groups to continue their great work while also meeting our ‘social value and sustainable procurement’ aims of using local companies employing local people that deliver skills and training to residents and improve community engagement.
The public should be excluded during this item because its discussion in public would be likely to lead to the disclosure to members of the public present of information in the following prescribed category:
3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to approve the procurement exemption for the Community Action Group Project Oxfordshire (Limited)
Minutes:
The Community Action Group project is a network of over 65 grassroot community groups supporting working to improve their local environment and community by reducing waste and energy, promoting sustainable transport, local food and working to increase biodiversity. In 2015 the County Council challenged the CAG project to diversify its funding streams and reduce their long-term reliance on OCC funding. The network has developed a plan for diversity and self-sufficiency and have established a new entity – a Community Benefit Society. The Cabinet Member for Environment was being asked to approve the necessary procurement exemption for this to go forward.
Having regard to the information set out in the report the Cabinet Member confirmed her decision as follows:
approve the procurement exemption for the Community Action Group Project Oxfordshire (Limited).
Signed……………………………………..
Cabinet Member for Environment
Date of signing……………………………